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The founders want to buy back Skype since their latest endeavor failed ( http://www.joost.com/ ) to catch on. This was first reported in April ( http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10217611-94.html ) , its possible that negations havnt gone the way the founder want and now pulls this trick.

That being said, their ISP-subscription model, while better than a customer-based subscription model (nickel-and-diming the customer for content?), still sucks. I'd much prefer the more open-access advertiser-based model that sites like Hulu and Joost are using. Then again, even those sites, in reality, are just a bigger version of this ISP-subscription model -- they're only accessible to US-based ISPs, not international. Hopefully, this will change so that people outside the US stop bitching,...

More closely emulating TV I'm in both the Joost and Hulu betas. Joost might be out of beta now... Anyway, Joost focuses more on providing exclusive/unique content in a streaming and TV-like environment. Joost uses its own application and has a pretty snazzy interface. Hulu is more like a YouTube of TV shows where specific shows (including Family Guy, The Simpsons, The Office, etc...) are streamed on demand, but that at certain intervals during the show you're forced to watch a 30 or 60 second commercial. It's entirely webpage based but does do full-screen video. I ended up watching the first few episodes of the Tin Man, got myself hooked. Also got to finally watch all the Firefly's thanks to Hulu!

Honestly, between those two services and (ahem) other-services-that-rhyme-with-fittorrent (ahem), my roomie canceled our subscription to cable TV... We simply don't need it as we can watch anything we want to within a few seconds (or at most hours) of us wanting to see it.

There are many viable alternatives to standard television. So far the one I use the most often is Miro. It offers a wide variety of video in an easy to use interface. I really like the way it uses rss. That makes it really easy to tell when there are new shows to watch. Also if you want to, Miro can be used to grab "real" tv shows as well.

Another option is Joost. Lots of good stuff there but I find it much more difficult to find out when new episodes of my favorite shows are available so I tend to forget about it.

Finally I have been pleasantly surprised by hulu. Watching old episodes of my favorite shows from the 80's has been fun.

I know that many people don't like to watch TV on their computer but for me placing a 17" laptop on my lap and relaxing on the couch is better than watching our small 32" tv. For the times when others want to watch something as well, I have it setup so that I can easily connect my laptop to the tv and watch it that way. Today's HDTV is almost the same thing as a large computer monitor and usually can be used as such.

Such as downloading Linux distros and free and open source software.

Some musicians, such as Michael David Crawford release their music in free OGG format with an open source license that allows it to be spread by BitTorrent.

Not only that but Joost and Miro are video players that use P2P and BitTorrent to share videos that are also released into the public domain, open source, and free licenses.

Like I said there are 100% legal reasons for using BitTorrent and P2P filesharing networks. This will hurt the free and open source market more than it cuts down on piracy. It is like giving commercial licenses a free pass and filtering or blocking the free and open source licenses. Some people write articles and howtos via Legal Torrents to promote their web sites in a free or open source license, as well as help out the community.

Watching TV wasn't mentioned in the requirements; if he does, there's always Hulu, Joost, Youtube, or any of a million other sites on every band of the ethical spectrum that's just as accessible from his laptop. Or, he could hook up an 85$ HDTV Tuner and never miss a beat.

I'm not talking about a low-quality, 2 minute clip shot by a 13 year old, replicating the mentos+coke video. Youtube is an interesting experiment, but at least it's current incarnation is little more than a fad.

I'm actually talking about a high quality video feed produced by professionals that would play on my IP-TV capable television.

Website that puts tv shows on the web, or something like that. http://www.joost.com/ I recognized the name, Joost, but couldn't remember what it was until I got home and looked them up.

http://i9.tinypic.com/4qs56ok.jpg - that's a picture of the car, driven by Tomas Schekter, getting a new front wing after a small collision. Took em about 30 seconds I think.

I kept my eye out for Roberto Moreno's car, looking for the penguin, but never could spot it. Too bad about him crashing out so early.

One word: Be-aware

around the middle of April i got an invitation from them to join their trials and use their new tv-via-p2p internet tv channels.

I go to their site, at https://www.joost.com/download/ to download the installler... and what do i get ? a slap-in-the face license.

I took the time to actually read the license they display (i know...wow factor) and what i read in that license gave me the willies..

They display it in a tiny window... i had to select it all, copy into clipboard and paste it into another program to view it properly.

Practically it says they can install and any software they want without asking me, provided that the software they install claims to display a license and that license is accepted.

Here are the relevant quotes:

2.1.1 Joost and the Joost(TM) Software will, and will permit third parties to, display advertising and other information within the interface of the Joost(TM) Software and/or in connection with the display of content and programming, in all cases without compensation to you. Joost or the Joost(TM) Software serves, and permits third parties to serve, advertisements within or adjacent to the content and programming delivered to you by the Joost(TM) Software. You understand and agree that Joost or the Joost(TM) Software, or applicable third parties, may include content-targeted advertisements or other related information, as further described in the Joost Privacy Policy. Your correspondence or business dealings with, or participation in promotions of, advertisers found on or through the Joost(TM) Software, including payment and delivery of related goods or services, and any other terms, conditions, warranties or representations associated with such dealings, are solely between you and such advertiser.

all clean, right ?? WRONG. here's what comes next a bit further:

4.1. You hereby acknowledge and agree that the Joost(TM) Software may be incorporated into, and may incorporate itself, software and other technology owned and controlled by third parties. Any such third party software or technology that is incorporated in the Joost(TM) Software falls under the scope of this Agreement. Any and all other third party software or technology that may be distributed together with the Joost(TM) Software will be subject to you explicitly accepting a license agreement with that third party. You acknowledge and agree that you will not enter into a contractual relationship with Joost or its affiliates regarding such third party software or technology and you will look solely to the applicable third party and not to Joost or its affiliates to enforce any of your rights. .....snip...

4.2.3. When installed on your computer, the Joost(TM) Software may periodically communicate with Joost servers and/or Joost(TM) Software installed by other users. Additionally, third party software installed on Your computer may periodically communicate with third party servers for the purposes described in the license agreement or privacy policy between you and that third party.

what ?! third party software may communicate with third party servers ??? isn't this the core definition of spyware ??

12.8. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Claims. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Luxembourg, without regard to conflict of law rules thereof. The parties hereto expressly understand and agree that any action brought by you against Joost arising out of this Agreement shall be brought exclusively in the courts located in Luxembourg, and any action brought by Joost against you arising out of this Agreement shall, at the election of Joost, be brought in either the courts located in Luxembourg, or the applicable courts of the jurisdiction in which you reside. The parties hereby consent to, and irrevocably submit themselves to, the exclusive personal jurisdiction and venue of such courts as set forth in this section. You further

That's my definition of being owned, where

All your data are belong to them

around the middle of April i got an invitation from them to join their trials and use their new tv-via-p2p internet tv channels.

I go to their site, at https://www.joost.com/download/ [joost.com] to download the installler... and what do i get ? a slap-in-the face license.

I took the time to actually read the license they display (i know...wow factor) and what i read in that license gave me the willies..

They display it in a tiny window... i had to select it all, copy into clipboard and paste it into another program to view it properly.

Practically it says they can install and any software they want without asking me, provided that the software they install claims to display a license and that license is accepted.

Here are the relevant quotes:

2.1.1 Joost and the Joost(TM) Software will, and will permit third parties to, display advertising and other information within the interface of the Joost(TM) Software and/or in connection with the display of content and programming, in all cases without compensation to you. Joost or the Joost(TM) Software serves, and permits third parties to serve, advertisements within or adjacent to the content and programming delivered to you by the Joost(TM) Software. You understand and agree that Joost or the Joost(TM) Software, or applicable third parties, may include content-targeted advertisements or other related information, as further described in the Joost Privacy Policy. Your correspondence or business dealings with, or participation in promotions of, advertisers found on or through the Joost(TM) Software, including payment and delivery of related goods or services, and any other terms, conditions, warranties or representations associated with such dealings, are solely between you and such advertiser.

all clean, right ?? WRONG. here's what comes next a bit further:

4.1. You hereby acknowledge and agree that the Joost(TM) Software may be incorporated into, and may incorporate itself, software and other technology owned and controlled by third parties. Any such third party software or technology that is incorporated in the Joost(TM) Software falls under the scope of this Agreement. Any and all other third party software or technology that may be distributed together with the Joost(TM) Software will be subject to you explicitly accepting a license agreement with that third party. You acknowledge and agree that you will not enter into a contractual relationship with Joost or its affiliates regarding such third party software or technology and you will look solely to the applicable third party and not to Joost or its affiliates to enforce any of your rights. .....snip...

4.2.3. When installed on your computer, the Joost(TM) Software may periodically communicate with Joost servers and/or Joost(TM) Software installed by other users. Additionally, third party software installed on Your computer may periodically communicate with third party servers for the purposes described in the license agreement or privacy policy between you and that third party.

what ?! third party software may communicate with third party servers ??? isn't this the core definition of spyware ??

12.8. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Claims. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Luxembourg, without regard to conflict of law rules thereof. The parties hereto expressly understand and agree that any action brought by you against Joost arising out of this Agreement shall be brought exclusively in the courts located in Luxembourg, and any action brought by Joost against you arising out of this Agreement shall, at the election of Joost, be brought in either the courts located in Luxembou

If it's free why do you care if it injects code into your yahoo! messenger? As if yahoo messenger isn't spyware already . . .

around the middle of April i got an invitation from them to join their trials and use their new tv-via-p2p internet tv channels.

I go to their site, at https://www.joost.com/download/ to download the installler... and what do i get ? a slap-in-the face license.

I took the time to actually read the license they display (i know...wow factor) and what i read in that license gave me the willies..

They display it in a tiny window... i had to select it all, copy into clipboard and paste it into another program to view it properly.

Practically it says they can install and any software they want without asking me, provided that the software they install claims to display a license and that license is accepted.

Here are the relevant quotes:

2.1.1 Joost and the Joost(TM) Software will, and will permit third parties to, display advertising and other information within the interface of the Joost(TM) Software and/or in connection with the display of content and programming, in all cases without compensation to you. Joost or the Joost(TM) Software serves, and permits third parties to serve, advertisements within or adjacent to the content and programming delivered to you by the Joost(TM) Software. You understand and agree that Joost or the Joost(TM) Software, or applicable third parties, may include content-targeted advertisements or other related information, as further described in the Joost Privacy Policy. Your correspondence or business dealings with, or participation in promotions of, advertisers found on or through the Joost(TM) Software, including payment and delivery of related goods or services, and any other terms, conditions, warranties or representations associated with such dealings, are solely between you and such advertiser.

all clean, right ?? WRONG. here's what comes next a bit further:

4.1. You hereby acknowledge and agree that the Joost(TM) Software may be incorporated into, and may incorporate itself, software and other technology owned and controlled by third parties. Any such third party software or technology that is incorporated in the Joost(TM) Software falls under the scope of this Agreement. Any and all other third party software or technology that may be distributed together with the Joost(TM) Software will be subject to you explicitly accepting a license agreement with that third party. You acknowledge and agree that you will not enter into a contractual relationship with Joost or its affiliates regarding such third party software or technology and you will look solely to the applicable third party and not to Joost or its affiliates to enforce any of your rights. .....snip...

4.2.3. When installed on your computer, the Joost(TM) Software may periodically communicate with Joost servers and/or Joost(TM) Software installed by other users. Additionally, third party software installed on Your computer may periodically communicate with third party servers for the purposes described in the license agreement or privacy policy between you and that third party.

what ?! third party software may communicate with third party servers ??? isn't this the core definition of spyware ??

12.8. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Claims. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Luxembourg, without regard to conflict of law rules thereof. The parties hereto expressly understand and agree that any action brought by you against Joost arising out of this Agreement shall be brought exclusively in the courts located in Luxembourg, and any action brought by Joost against you arising out of this Agreement shall, at the election of Joost, be brought in either the courts located in Luxembourg, or the applicable courts of the jurisdiction in which you reside. The parties hereby consent to, and irrevocably submit themselve

around the middle of April i got an invitation from them to join their trials and use their new tv-via-p2p internet tv channels.

I go to their site, at https://www.joost.com/download/ to download the installler... and what do i get ? a slap-in-the face license.

I took the time to actually read the license they display (i know...wow factor) and what i read in that license gave me the willies..

They display it in a tiny window... i had to select it all, copy into clipboard and paste it into another program to view it properly.

Practically it says they can install and any software they want without asking me, provided that the software they install claims to display a license and that license is accepted.

Here are the relevant quotes:

2.1.1 Joost and the Joost(TM) Software will, and will permit third parties to, display advertising and other information within the interface of the Joost(TM) Software and/or in connection with the display of content and programming, in all cases without compensation to you. Joost or the Joost(TM) Software serves, and permits third parties to serve, advertisements within or adjacent to the content and programming delivered to you by the Joost(TM) Software. You understand and agree that Joost or the Joost(TM) Software, or applicable third parties, may include content-targeted advertisements or other related information, as further described in the Joost Privacy Policy. Your correspondence or business dealings with, or participation in promotions of, advertisers found on or through the Joost(TM) Software, including payment and delivery of related goods or services, and any other terms, conditions, warranties or representations associated with such dealings, are solely between you and such advertiser.

all clean, right ?? WRONG. here's what comes next a bit further:

4.1. You hereby acknowledge and agree that the Joost(TM) Software may be incorporated into, and may incorporate itself, software and other technology owned and controlled by third parties. Any such third party software or technology that is incorporated in the Joost(TM) Software falls under the scope of this Agreement. Any and all other third party software or technology that may be distributed together with the Joost(TM) Software will be subject to you explicitly accepting a license agreement with that third party. You acknowledge and agree that you will not enter into a contractual relationship with Joost or its affiliates regarding such third party software or technology and you will look solely to the applicable third party and not to Joost or its affiliates to enforce any of your rights. .....snip...

4.2.3. When installed on your computer, the Joost(TM) Software may periodically communicate with Joost servers and/or Joost(TM) Software installed by other users. Additionally, third party software installed on Your computer may periodically communicate with third party servers for the purposes described in the license agreement or privacy policy between you and that third party.

what ?! third party software may communicate with third party servers ??? isn't this the core definition of spyware ??

12.8. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Claims. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Luxembourg, without regard to conflict of law rules thereof. The parties hereto expressly understand and agree that any action brought by you against Joost arising out of this Agreement shall be brought exclusively in the courts located in Luxembourg, and any action brought by Joost against you arising out of this Agreement shall, at the election of Joost, be brought in either the courts located in Luxembourg, or the applicable courts of the jurisdiction in which you reside. The parties hereby consent to, and irrevocably submit themselves to, the exclusive personal jurisdiction and venue of such courts as set forth in this section. You further agree not to bring claims on

I was curious, as it was introduced in a Wired article and then I signed up for the beta http://www.joost.com/. For those who are unfamiliar, here is a Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joost/ entry...

From the Joost FAQ:

Does Joost(TM) work on the Mac or Linux?

We're working hard on a native Macintosh Intel version and expect it to be available in the next few months. Currently the application works fine under Bootcamp but not under Parallels; it needs to access the graphics processing unit (GPU) for some of its operations, and Parallels does not support that at the moment.

A Linux version is also in the works.

The following is off the Joost FAQ Page (requires a login ID):

Joost(TM) is a streaming video application, and so uses a relatively high amount of bandwidth per hour. In one hour of viewing, approximately 320Mb data will be downloaded and 105Mb uploaded, which means that it will exhaust a 1Gb cap in 10 hours. Also, the application continues to run in the background after you close the main window. For this reason, if you pay for your bandwidth usage per megabyte or have your usage capped by your ISP, you should be careful to always exit Joost(TM) client completely when you are finished watching it.